Ford is looking to re-launch the classic Escort nameplate for the Chinese market. The new Ford Escort Concept debuted at the Shanghai Motor Show->ke2470 and will be a compact four door sedan in its reincarnation.

The Escort name brings back memories of the 60's and 70's cars that were popular rally racing cars or the popular selling cars from the 80's and 90's. The nameplate is still very big in China where older cars command a premium.

The concept has styling much like that of other recent Fords, such as the Focus->ke440 and Fusion->ke433. The front features a large angular grille that sets the styling tone for the vehicle. It also features bold lines that flow smoothly from front to back.

The car looks to help Ford gather more sales in the emerging Chinese market, as the American automaker is tries to gain foothold in the Asian market. The hope is that the Escort will give them a leg up.

Hit the jump to read more details about the Ford Escort Concept.

2013 Ford Escort Concept

Specifications
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  • Model: 2013 Ford Escort Concept
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

The concept Escort has styling much like that of other recent Fords, such as the Focus and Fusion. The front features a large Aston Martin->ke13-like front grille that sets the styling tone for the vehicle and contoured lines that flow smoothly from front to back.

The Escort features angular taillights that include turn signals that flow with the lines of the rear of the car. The flowing lines help give the car the feel of a continuous design flow. This time around, the Escort will have four doors which should make it a practice choice for young buyers in the Chinese market.

Interior

The Escort interior was not shown. It is a safe bet that trim levels similar to the Focus will be available in the production version of the car. This should mean good quality materials and Sync.

Drivetrain

No information has been released about the potential drivetrain options. However, we expect a 2.0-liter four-cylinder option with 160 horsepower with a possible EcoBoost option that could be the basis for a higher-performance variant with around 270 horsepower.

Price

No pricing information is available, but we expect that closer to launch of the production car. We estimate that the price will need to start around $17,000 (about 106,000 Chinese Yuan) to give it a chance to compete in an overcrowded compact sedan market.

Competition

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer

The Lancer offers from 152 horsepower up to 237 horsepower in a sporty four-door sedan, giving it good performance for its class. The large, angular grille that is split by the front bumper sets the tone for the vehicle. It features a wedge-like profile with crisp lines that enhances its sporty nature. The biggest downside to the Lancer is the fact that its interior is very dated and really needs a complete overhaul.

2013 Nissan Sentra

The Sentra comes with a 1.8-liter engine with130 horsepower, which is fine to get you where you are going, but it lacks the performance of its competition. The exterior styling is sleek and combines curves with angular lines for a clean look. The interior is modern and is one of the best that you will find in its class. It combines high-quality materials, a modern design and the controls are well laid out. Nissan has a very well designed car, but we wish it was available with a more powerful engine.

Conclusion

The Ford Escort looks to help Ford gather more sales in the important Chinese market. With China’s growing middle-class, Ford wants to get into the market early to stay in the minds of potential buyers. They are hoping that the small sedan will

There is no official word on if the car would be sold in the American or European markets at a later date.